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DON’T MISS!: IT’S TAKING OFFF
I F the performers’ acts are as creative as their names, we’re all in for a wild weekend. The 10th annual New York Burlesque Festival sashays into town this weekend, and with it flirty showcases from 112 international artists, including Violet Vendetta, Miss Poison Ivory, Dangrrr Doll and Angie Pontani. What began a decade ago as a modest event has now grown to a multiday extravaganza of lavish costumes, tongue-in-cheek humor and sexy performances.
“Burlesque has gotten a lot more popular,” says festival co-founder and former burlesque performer Jen Gapay.
The premiere party kicks off tonight at Brooklyn Bowl. The Saturday Spectacular, hosted by longtime local nightlife fixture Murray Hill, promises to be among the weekend’s highlights, along with Sunday’s Golden Pastie Awards — burlesque’s equivalent of the Oscars. (Here’s a tip: You probably won’t win anything.) Expect a special appearance by 84-year-old burlesque queen Tempest Storm . . . probably not her real name. Details at thenewyorkburlesquefestival.com.
— Reed Tucker

CHECK IT OUT!: ART BETWEEN THE BRIDGES
Get to the “art” of the matter in Brooklyn, where more than 100 studios and 500 artists will showcase their work at the 16th annual DUMBO Arts Festival this weekend. Highlights include a floating sculpture garden in the East River, as well as “Superhero,” an interactive piece projecting festivalgoers’ images onto a building facade. With 225,000 art lovers expected to visit, the neighborhood’s come a long way. “DUMBO was at one point an undesirable neighborhood with empty lofts and warehouses,” says fest director Lisa Kim. “But even in the ’80s, the artists were always there.” It’s today from 6 to 9 p.m., tomorrow, noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. It’s all happpening by the Brooklyn waterfront, between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges; dumboartsfestival.com.
— Christina Amoroso

WATCH IT!: ANOTHER DIMENSION
“Dial M for Murder’’ (1954) — an adaptation of Frederick Knott’s stage play about a retired tennis pro (Ray Milland) whose plot to kill his unfaithful wife (Grace Kelly) for her money goes awry — is second-tier Alfred Hitchcock in its 2-D version. But Hitchcock’s only film shot in 3-D is much more involving in its original stereoscopic edition, hardly seen at the time because it arrived in theaters just as the 1950’s 3-D fad was fading. Film Forum is showing the New York premiere of a spectacular new digital restoration of the 3-D version through Thursday. It doesn’t require the original pair of synchronized projectors, but you’ll still have to wear polarized glasses. 209 W. Houston St. Info: filmforum.org.
— Lou Lumenick

Everett Collection

TAKE A BITE!: THE SPICE IS RIGHT
The weather may be cooling, but at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden tomorrow, the heat is on. The occasion is the 20th annual Chile Pepper Fiesta, which pays tribute to the cayenne, the habanero, the Bolivian rainbow and other peppers that singe tongues the world over.
That’s not just a figure of speech — chili peppers hold meaning to cultures around the globe, a fact that will be celebrated with Korean drumming, African dance, Mexican mariachi and other entertainments.
The focus, though, is on the fiery peppers themselves. Around 30 makers of hot sauces, chutneys and kimchis will sell their wares; the marriage of chili and chocolate will get special consideration, with more than a dozen chocolatiers offering spicy sweets. You can buy peppers at a farm stand and eye them on tours of the garden’s chile plants. Look, but don’t bite — among them is the bhut jolokia, the world’s hottest pepper. $15, kids under 12 free. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 150 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn. Info: bbg.org.
— Chris Erikson

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LEND A HAND!: FIGHT POVERTY!
Ask Band of Horses frontman Ben Bridwell how it feels to share a historic bill with Neil Young and Crazy Horse on one of the biggest stages in the world, and he quips, “I keep thinking someone lost a bet — but I’m not complaining!” The Horses, who’ve played at Young’s annual Bridge School benefit, will be onstage tomorrow in Central Park’s Great Lawn for the Global Citizen Festival, a show dedicated to battling poverty. Foo Fighters, the Black Keys and K’Naan are also on the bill for the 5 p.m. show, which organizers hope will be noticed by world leaders here at the UN. “Some things just make a lot of sense, and you say, ‘Absolutely — why would I not do this?’ ” says Bridwell, adding, “I probably would not have even opened my mouth to sing if it weren’t for Neil Young. I’m a huge fan.” VIP passes, live streaming and details at globalfestival.com.
— Bill Murphy